Microsoft highlights dangers of using Internet Explorer

Microsoft is making users aware of the perils of using Internet Explorer as their default browser, suggesting that you switch to another browser. Microsoft’s cybersecurity specialist in a blog post said that although it is fine to use Internet Explorer for certain enterprise solutions, it should not be relied on as the main browser but just as a compatibility solution.

Microsoft recommends you don’t use Internet Explorer

Most web app developers these days are testing their apps on modern browsers. They don’t use Internet Explorer for the same, anymore. Moreover, new apps are coming out with greater frequency every year and as such, testing them on the browser that was sent to the technology retirement home in 2015 doesn’t appear to be a viable option.

Under the heading ‘Creating technical debt by default’, Chris Jackson of Microsoft notes:

“In the past, Internet Explorer was optimized for simplicity at the expense of technical debt. Looking all the way back to Internet Explorer 6, the very concept of ‘standards mode’ vs ‘quirks mode’ comes from this ‘easy button’ approach. More effort on the part of IT teams was required to get to standards mode, which made ‘getting modern’ an opt-in choice”.

So, if a webpage designer sets out to create a brand-new webpage today and run it in the local intranet zone, without adding any additional markup what would be its outcome? He would invariably end up using a 1999 implementation of web standards by default.

As you know, Microsoft is already working on a Chromium-powered version of Edge browser. It should be available to the Insiders in the coming weeks for testing. This, to some extent, should help Microsoft push businesses away from Internet Explorer and embrace a more robust browser.

Anand Khanse is the Admin of TheWindowsClub.com and a 10-year Microsoft MVP Awardee in Windows for the period 2006-16. He enjoys following and reporting Microsoft news and developments in the world of Personal Computing & Social Media.